Liberal wins first major 2025 battleground election, in race turned into Trump, Musk, referendum
In a high-profile and historically expensive election in Wisconsin, the liberal-leaning candidate, Dane County Circuit Court Judge Susan Crawford, is projected to win, protecting the progressive majority control of the state’s Supreme Court. This victory is crucial as the court is likely to rule on important issues such as congressional redistricting, voting and labor rights, and abortion.
The Associated Press projects that Judge Crawford will defeat Brad Schimel, a former state attorney general who currently serves as a state circuit court judge in Waukesha County. Schimel, the conservative-aligned candidate, was endorsed by President Donald Trump. The race became the most expensive judicial election in the nation’s history, with massive amounts of money pouring in from Democrat-aligned and Republican-aligned groups from outside Wisconsin.
The election partially transformed into a referendum on Trump’s controversial moves during the opening months of his second term in the White House. Billionaire Elon Musk, the president’s top donor and White House adviser, played a significant role in the race. Musk provided substantial financial support to Schimel and controversially handed out million-dollar checks to Wisconsin voters who had cast ballots in the contest and signed a petition to stop “activist judges.”
Musk emphasized the importance of the election, stating that it was critical to the Trump agenda and the future of civilization. Other conservative mega-donors, such as Richard and Elizabeth Uihlein, also supported Schimel and the Wisconsin GOP in the race.
Schimel, who received an endorsement from Trump, focused on rallying voters and protecting the conservative agenda. He emphasized the need to restore objectivity to the Wisconsin Supreme Court and highlighted the importance of winning the state. The election was seen as a referendum on Wisconsin and its future.
Crawford, on the other hand, received a surge in fundraising from an energized base eager to resist Trump and Republicans. She spoke out against outsider interference in the election, particularly Elon Musk’s attempt to buy a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Crawford argued that the election would determine fundamental rights and freedoms for all.
Both candidates were vying to succeed liberal-leaning justice Ann Walsh Bradley, with liberal-aligned justices holding a 4-3 majority on the state Supreme Court before the election. The race drew top surrogates to Wisconsin, including progressive champion Sen. Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump Jr.
Overall, the election in Wisconsin was closely watched as a battleground state that could have national implications. The outcome will have a significant impact on key issues facing the state, making it a critical race for both Democrats and Republicans.
